Joanne Glasser, who became the first woman to lead both Bradley University and Eastern Kentucky University, has died. Bradley University announced her passing on June 23, with school officials confirming she died earlier that week.
Private services have already taken place for Glasser, who spent more than a decade shaping two universities and leaving behind a legacy that touched thousands of students.
Bradley President Jim Shadid spoke warmly of Glasser’s impact, describing her “unmistakable passion” for the university and its students.
He called her “a change maker on campus,” noting that her influence reached far beyond the physical buildings she helped construct, extending into the lives of countless students she encountered during her tenure.
A Career Built on Firsts
Glasser’s path to higher education leadership began far from a college campus. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, she worked as a reporter for the Baltimore News American before pursuing a law.
After earning her law degree, she became an assistant state’s attorney and later served as Labor Commissioner for Baltimore County starting in 1980.
Her career took a pause when her husband suffered a stroke, prompting her to step back and care for her family. That detour eventually led her to Towson University, where she discovered a passion for higher education administration that would define the rest of her professional life.
From Towson, Glasser rose quickly, becoming president of Eastern Kentucky University in 2001 at age 10th in that institution’s history.
During her six years there, EKU saw significant growth, launching new academic programs and opening several facilities, including a business and technology center and a campus location in Corbin. Her success in Richmond set the stage for an even bigger role.
Leading Bradley Through Triumph and Tragedy
In 2007, Glasser arrived at Bradley University as its first female president, stepping into the role just before a tragedy that would test her leadership immediately.
Danny Dahlquist, a student-athlete, died in an accident involving fireworks shortly before the school year began. Glasser’s handling of the university’s response in those early days earned her widespread praise and set the tone for her presidency moving forward.
Over the next eight years, Glasser left a lasting physical mark on Bradley’s campus. She oversaw construction of the Markin Family Student Recreation Center, the Renaissance Coliseum, and the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center, along with renovations to Westlake Hall.
She also spearheaded a capital fundraising campaign that brought in more than $150 million, the largest in the university’s history.
Glasser was known for staying connected to students, often showing up at sporting events and holding open office hours where students could speak with her directly. Her presidency wasn’t without hardship on a personal level, either.
She faced breast cancer twice during her time as president, going into remission in 2012 after undergoing surgery.
Her final years at Bradley brought new challenges, including declining freshman enrollment that forced the university to trim $7 million from its budget.
Despite the difficulties, Glasser remained committed to the university until her retirement in 2015, when she said she hoped to be remembered as a president who prioritized student success and engagement above all else.
